Doctors classify acquired aplastic anemia aplastic anemia: (ay-PLASS-tik uh-NEE_mee-uh) A rare and serious condition in which the bone marrow fails to make enough blood cells - red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The term aplastic is a Greek word meaning not to form. Anemia is a condition that happens when red blood cell count is low. Most… into three types, based largely on the patient's neutrophil neutrophil: (NOO-truh-fil) The most numerous of the white blood cells, important for helping the body fight infections (particularly bacterial and fungal infections. count. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell white blood cell: Cells in the body that fight disease and infection by attacking and killing germs. There are several types of white blood cells including neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes. Each type of cell fights a different kind of germ. Also called WBC, leukocyte. that fight bacterial infections.
Moderate Aplastic Anemia (MAA)
If you have moderate aplastic anemia:
- You may have low blood cells counts, but not as low as with severe aplastic anemia.
- You may have few or no symptoms.
- Your doctor may not recommend treatment. Instead, your doctor may just keep an eye on your blood counts.
- Your condition may stay the same for many years.
Severe Aplastic Anemia (SAA)
If you have severe aplastic anemia, at least two of the following are true:
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Your neutrophil count is less than 500 cells per microliter.
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Your reticulocyte reticulocyte: An immature red blood cell. Reticulocytes are normally found in the bone marrow. They are present in the bloodstream only in very low numbers. (young red blood cell red blood cell: The most numerous type of blood cell in healthy people. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that picks up oxygen in the lungs and brings it to cells in all parts of the body. Also called erythrocyte, RBC. ) count is less than 20,000 per microliter.
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Your platelet platelet: The smallest type of blood cell. Platelets help the blood to clot and stop bleeding. Also called a thrombocyte. count is less than 20,000 per microliter.
Very Severe Aplastic Anemia (VSAA)
If you have very severe aplastic anemia:
- Your neutrophil count is less than 200 per microliter.
- Your blood counts are otherwise like those of someone with severe aplastic anemia.